Seemingly disparate portraits of people -- among them a single mother, a high school principal, and an ace student -- Distinctly American -- all affected by the proliferation of guns in American society.

Bo Durant, a volatile, working-class gearhead, sees himself trapped in a world with few possibilities but when he falls off his stepdaughter's bike, suffers a concussion, stops eating, and ... See full summary »

When the mother of his infant son unexpectedly passes away, struggling actor Mark grapples with fatherhood and his inability to grow up. And when he sparks with a single mother, he learns how his choices have real-life consequences.

Storyline

Two car thieving buddies (Ben and Alan) come to personal crossroads when Kelsey, a likable but neglected and fairly well abandoned twelve-year-old boy, crosses their path. Ben and Alan, having bonded for life in helping each other escape unhappy home lives, react differently to Kelsey's situation. One deeply fears the responsibility of looking after a child (having had no personal experiences worth following) while the other finds himself compelled to take him in (seeing himself in the child - an abandoned kid whom no one else wants). Written by
statmanjeff

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Trivia

Johnny Simmons, who plays Kelsey at age 18, is the same age as Jake Sandvig, who plays Alan, his adoptive father. They were both 25 when A Bag of Hammers was made. See more »

Quotes

Ben:
We all get a bag of hammers. You know what I mean? I mean, whether it's being poor, or catching cancer, divorce, losing your brother - losing your mother... You know what I mean, Kelsey? It's... Well, but the thing is th-tha... The thing IS is what you do with these hammers when you get 'em, 'cause that's what shows you what kind of a man you are, even if you're not ready to be one yet.
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Crazy Credits

This film is dedicated to Suellen and William Crano. Who are great parents. See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

User Reviews

It's so great to be surprised by a film you guess is just OK, and then it turns out to be a real gem. The title is just what it is - A bag of hammers. A depiction of life when it's not on the sunny side. This film is like what Tom Waits would be, if he was a film.

Two best friends, living on the edge of the law after having a rather bad upbringing, still have both brains and hearts. They notice th little neighboring boy on 12 which has a similar upbringing they had. A smart, cute kid, which is very much neglected by his "bad mother", which is poor, out of job and depressed. One day they realize they have to take action.

The film is definitely from the shadow-side of life, and you may expect to shed more tears than laughter. Well payed by all involved, the film slowly steals your heart, and makes you think what life is all about.

The film manages to be funny as well as serious in a very rare way. The actors manage to make this both believable and rare. Recommended!

4 of 4 people found this review helpful.
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